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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #340549
Research Project: Plant Feeding Mite (Acari) Systematics

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: New and little known feather mites (Acari)

Author
item HERMANDES, F. - Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
item Bauchan, Gary
item Ochoa, Ronald - Ron

Submitted to: Parasitology Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2017
Publication Date: 11/1/2017
Citation: Hermandes, F.A., Bauchan, G.R., Ochoa, R. 2017. New and little known feather mites (Acari). Parasitology Research. 43(7):499-517.

Interpretive Summary: Understanding the bird mite fauna and its associations. All the birds have feather mites and most have multiple species. The beauty of some of the bird mites challenge the colorful aura of their own host birds. They are found in different body areas of the bird, including the wing, tail feathers, contour and down feathers, and even inside the calamus of the feathers. These mites coexist with the birds but some can be harmful to the birds as they cause excessive grooming. We describe several feather mites found on five different bird species based on microscopy studies using differential interference contrast (DIC) and low-temperature scanning electron microscopy (LT-SEM). These studies are important for the health and welfare of these special birds and are especially important to scientists, wildlife managers, and zookeepers.

Technical Abstract: Feather mites (Acari: Astigmata) were analyzed with low temperature scanning electron microscopy (LT-SEM), including the description of three new species: Plicatalloptes atrichogynus sp. nov. (Analgoidea: Alloptidae) from the Neotropical cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus (Gmelin, 1789) (Pelecaniformes: Phalacrocoracidae), Metapterodectes saturninus sp. nov. (Analgoidea; Proctophyllodidae) from the chalk-browed mockingbird Mimus saturninus (Lichtenstein) (Mimidae), Neumannella crypturella sp. nov. (Analgoidea: Dermoglyphidae) from the small-billed tinamou Crypturellus parvirostris (Wagler) (Tinamidae), Oustaletia pegasus Trouessart, 1855 (Pterolichoidea: Vexillariidae) from the bushy-crested hornbill Anorrhinus galeritus (Temminck) (Bucerotidae), and Opisthocomacarus umbellifer (Trouessart, 1899) (Pterolichoidea: Pterolichidae) from the hoatzin Opisthocomus hoazin (Müller) (Opisthocomidae). The latter two mites illustrate a rich variety of setae shapes and types, including simple setiform, branched, smooth, expanded, flat, spiky, and leaf-like.